During the air strikes by the Afghan and US forces in southern Afghanistan 20 Taliban militants were killed.

According to officials, the airstrikes were carried out on Talibans hideouts in Wakil Wazir roundabout.

It is said additional forces have been deployed to Marjah district in a bid to further step up counter-terrorism operations against the militant groups.

The airstrikes were carried out late on Thursday in the vicinity of Marjah district of the Helmand, Afghan Khaama Press reported Saturday.

The Afghan forces have also received enough logistics support so that they can take their fight against the insurgents forward.

Taliban insurgents have carried out numerous large attacks to capture the key districts of Helmand including the provincial capital of Lashkargah city during the recent months but the local officials are saying that majority of the attacks were repulsed by the security forces.

Helmand is among the volatile provinces in southern Afghanistan where the Taliban insurgents are actively operating in its various districts and often carry out insurgency activities.